English Meaning & Definitions
A slow-moving reptile of the order Testudines, characterized by a bony or cartilaginous shell developed from its ribs and acting as a shield.
- “The sea turtle swam gracefully through the coral reef.”
- “We watched the turtle slowly crawl across the sandy beach to lay its eggs.”
To capsize or turn upside down, especially in reference to a boat or vehicle.
- “The sudden gust of wind caused the small sailboat to turtle in the middle of the lake.”
- “If you hit the curb too fast, the car might turtle.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “turtle”.
The word is likely an alteration of the French 'tortue' (tortoise), influenced by the English word 'turtle' (a name formerly applied to the turtle dove). The association with the bird likely arose from the similarity in the sounds they make or a folk-etymological shift during the 17th century.
Imagine a 'turt'le that is 'turt' (tucked) inside its shell for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions About “turtle”
1. What is the meaning of “turtle” in English?
In English, turtle (noun) is defined as: “A slow-moving reptile of the order Testudines, characterized by a bony or cartilaginous shell developed from its ribs and acting as a shield.”.
2. How do you use “turtle” in a sentence?
“The sea turtle swam gracefully through the coral reef.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “turtle”?
The word is likely an alteration of the French 'tortue' (tortoise), influenced by the English word 'turtle' (a name formerly applied to the turtle dove). The association with the bird likely arose from the similarity in the sounds they make or a folk-etymological shift during the 17th century.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.